The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-13
Concerning Parties.


Vermont, political parties at the pres
ent time are of comparatively little con-
sequence, party divisions are now less
distinct than in the past, the great pub
lie questions are controlled by factions,
politicians are generally a bad lot, both
parties are managed for the benefit of
hungry oflice-seekers, and the country
is best served by few self-righteous
men who renounce party allegiance
and maintain "the divine right to
bolt" under any circumstances. To
these pessimistic views several eXcep-
tons may justly be taken.
The principal trouble with Mr. Eaton
appears to be that his mind is dom
mated by the idea that government can
be run successfully upon non-parti-
san basis, and he is unable to see that
this is impractcable, save in limited
degree, even if it were desirable, which
it certainly is not under our form of
government. Our national history
sufficiently demonstrates that govern
ment by parties is the best for all the
interests of the country, for in no other
way can the accomplishment of desired
ends in legislation and administration
be made certainty. This might not
be the case if parties did not represent
certain well-defined principles and poll
a.; Il, @l,o;, Lo1
tend to promote good government and
the public welfare, or if there was no
difference between parties. But both
parties are not equally worthy and
there is decided difference between
them, and comparatively few people
will be found who will admit that the
success of one party is no more de-
sirable than the success of the other.
The republican party represents several
great principles and measures against
which the democratic party is arrayed
in opposition. Likewise, the latter adj
vocates certain principles and policies
that are antagonstic to republican
ideas. 1t is a SANDER upon the great
body of voters to assert that they are
not sincere and patriotic in their adj
vocacy and support of their political
principles and in their service to party.
Neither are all classes of politicians
to be held in contempt. There are
among them the INSCRIPTIONS, the dis
honest and the insincere. These we
have always had with us, and probably
always shall, at least until the millen-
mum. But men who devote their time
and means to enlightening their fellow
citizens and qualifying them to under
stand public questions and to exercise
wisely and benefcently the right of
suffrage are also politicians, and in the
broadcast sense. The public must learn
in time to make proper and necessary
distinctions, and not regard the term
politician as the apt synonym for that
which is selfish and corrupt. We
doubt if it would be found practicable
to conduct the affairs of free people
without politicians; and as to partisan
ship, which is so much condemned by
the g Independents " in all parties ex-
cept their own small and select body, if
it had no existence there would be in
finitely less popular interest in public
affairs, the evil of Sinking political
and public duties would be vastly in
creased and the country would be
governed, practically, by minority of
voters. Without parties the nation
would be in chronic state of political
anarchy. The utility of associations of
men to promote a common purpose is
appreciated even by the mugwumps,
for they have their civil service reform
and free-trade leagues. Party organ
ization is as natural and indispensable
as organization for any other purpose
But to be effective party organization
must maintain some sort of discipline,
and no party can ever hope to admin
lister the affairs of government or to Sc
cure the ultimate triumph of its prin-
ciples and policies that does not possess
and enforce discipline to some extent.
Furthermore, carrying elections is hon
orable and legitimate business, and
without the Intervention of practical
politics" which the " Independents ("
affect to despise, the success of any
party is impossible.
We can agree with Mr. Eaton that
there are occasions 0hough they do not
often arise) when men are justified in
what they believe to be their right and
duty to repudiate party obligations and
vote according to their own judgment
and conscience. But the circumstances
must be of nature to justify such
action, and we claim that such circum-
stances had no real existence in 1884.
The " Independents of 1884 started
out with the demoralizing theory that
the best results are to be obtained in
our politics not by the support of party
or by influences exercised through party
organizations, but by eXalting the can
didate above the party and making his